Setting a new accessibility standard

At Sudima Hotels we strive to make our properties accessible to all guests, regardless of their needs, to make their stay more enjoyable. We are the only accessibility rated hotel chain in NZ and all our properties are rated bronze to gold standard.

Sudima Hotels were the first nationwide hotel chain in New Zealand to prioritise accessibility by working through the Be. Welcome programme at Be Accessible. Now, that we have all four current hotels (Auckland Airport, Hamilton, Rotorua, Christchurch Airport assessed, (and the new Christchurch City hotel's design plans reviewed), we are working on upgrading to even higher accessibility ratings!

This year we held our first Be. Confident workshops at all our hotel sites and support office to further develop our team's access skills and confidence, to infuse this into our internal culture.

In October 2017, Sudima Auckland Airport hotel rating shifted up to a Gold accessibility rating. This involved our team making a number of innovative changes to reach this new status. This included – establishing a K9 working dog package, visual and audio doorbells, vibrating alarms, and braille restaurant menus. We are eager to continue this journey and establish our Auckland Airport site as the Pacific region's first ever Platinum accessibility-rated hotel!

Our CEO Sudesh says, "I have seen first-hand, with those close to me that have access needs, the difficulties they can face when trying to undertake everyday tasks, and the effect this can have on their confidence. A 100% accessible society can only be achieved through a commitment from us all, and I am proud to be a part of this change. I hope that my participation as a member of Be’s Fab 50 will encourage others to get involved in making our society more inclusive and accessible for everyone."